guru10 13 15

GURU 10 - Honeybee & Honey ThiefGURU 10 - Honeybee & Honey Thief

107

THE LESSON LEARNT BY THE AVADHUTA BRAHMANA

The instruction received from the honeybee is that just like the honeybee, one should not just think of saving things and keeping for one’s own enjoyment. Rather he should cultivate the habit of giving and sharing with others. If one does not learn this habit, nature will anyway force him to learn this by taking away our possessions forcefully. In this example, the honeybees struggle and strive to collect a huge amount of honey, tirelessly endeavoring day and night. They are so much focused on accumulating honey for the future use that they do not even have the time to enjoy the honey themselves. And one fine day the honey thief comes and cleverly steals all the honey, which the bees have accumulated for such a long time. A greedy person accumulates a large quantity of money with great struggle and pain, but the person who has struggled so much to acquire this wealth is not always allowed to enjoy it himself or give it in charity to others. The greedy man is like the bee that struggles to produce a large quantity of honey, which is then stolen by a man who will enjoy it personally or sell it to others. No matter how carefully one hides is hard-earned wealth or tries to protect it, there are those who are expert in detecting the whereabouts of valuable things, and they will steal it.

The Theme - Learn to share, otherwise you will lose everything.

SLOKA RECITATION

Let us learn a sloka from the Neeti Sastras, which teaches us something about the above theme. Before teaching the present verse, the teacher should begin the class by chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus with the children all together. Chant the tenth verse of the 24 Gurus again. Tell the children we will learn the tenth verse and also understand it. Learn the tenth verse. (The teacher recites the sloka line by line and makes the children repeat and memorize the sloka)

Krpanena samo data Na bhuto na bhavisyati

Asprsanneva vittaniYah parebhyah prayachhati

1/1 60 mins 60 mins

Let us learn a sloka from the Neeti Sastras, which teaches us something about

Before teaching the present verse, the teacher should begin the class by

Chant the tenth verse of the 24 Gurus again. Tell the children we will learn

Learn the tenth verse. (The teacher recites the sloka line by line and makes

GURU 10 - Honeybee & Honey Thief

108

Never was there; nor will there be a donor like a miser. Because without touching the money – he gives all of it to others (i.e. at death).

LESSONS FROM GURU – 5 SHARINGS

The teacher can explain to the children, the lessons which this Honey bee and honey thief teach us. The abbreviation “ ” makes it convenient for us to remember what the guru wants to teach us. The teacher can write down on the board the below abbreviation and ask the children to note it down and learn it. In this session, after explaining the meaning of “5 sharing”, the teacher will be able to narrate a maximum of four stories. The remaining stories can be continued in the next class.

1. Sharing is caring - Sharing means giving someone a portion of your time, knowledge, talents or possessions to help them. 2. Sharing makes you less selfish 3. Sharing is the love that you show to people - Sharing responsibilities at home, school 4. Sharing is the quality of the divine - it gives you satisfaction 5. Sharing is not about sharing answers in exams, gossip about someone else.

1. Sharing is CaringSharing means giving someone a portion of your time,

knowledge, talents or possessions to help them.


STORY 1 - THE OLD WOMAN AND HER HALF POMEGRANATE

Once a sadhu allotted a day for collections for charity. He sat under a tree and began receiving gifts. A King came and gave him

deeds of lands, houses, and valuable properties. Then came a rich merchant with rich and valuable gifts. Then came wealthy landlords. The sadhu accepted all their gifts by extending his right hand in token thereof. Then came an old, shriveled woman and said to him, “Lord, I heard about your appeal for

charity only this morning. I am a poor old woman and have nothing. I was eating

this pomegranate, and had eaten half when I heard the news. I had nothing else to give but this half pomegranate. So I brought it along. Please, Lord, accept this.” She looked at him appealingly. The sadhu at once came down himself and accepted the gift with both hands, in deep gratitude. The king, the merchants, and all who

wealthy landlords. The sadhu accepted


109

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was

waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don’t want to be bothered. This was one of those ‘don’t want to be bothered times.’ “I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money,” I thought. He didn’t. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. “That’s a very pretty car,” he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard keeps more than his face warm. I said, “Thanks,” and continued wiping off my car. He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, “Ask him if he needs any help.” I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice. “Do you need any help?” I asked. He answered in three simple but

profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. “Don’t we all?” he said. I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun. Don’t we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it’s just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don’t have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. Maybe the man

STORY 2 - DON’T WE ALL ... ?

times that you just don’t want to be bothered. This was one of

were there were immensely surprised. “O Blessed one,” asked the king, “why did you receive her gift with both hands, coming down yourself from your

dais, when you took our gifts merely by extending your right hand?” “Because, King,” he replied, “she gave her all. The rest of you merely gave a fraction of what you have.”


110

Annadanam param danamVidya danam atah param

Annena ksanika trptir Yavad jivam ca vidyaya

Charity of food is great. Greater is charity of knowledge. Food gives satisfaction for a few moments. But knowledge gives satisfaction (contentment) for whole life.

was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to messenger to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, and then said, “Go messenger to that man

cleaning the car, that man needs help.” Don’t we all?


MORAL - “Even a smile can be charity”

2. Sharing makes you less selfish

Once a king was very pleased with one citizen of his and declared to him that he can take how much ever land he can cover till the end of the day. The condition was that he has to come back at sun set to the starting point to claim the land. This man became very jubilant and decided that he was going to cover as much as possible in one day. He started running at full speed. He ran and ran and ran. He had managed to cover a large amount of land till noontime. He had decided that he would spend half the day running one side so that by the end of the day, he can come back to the start. But when it was noon time, he thought that he will run a little more distance and will make up for it by running back faster. He was getting more and more tired. But he still pushed

himself. After some time he realized that it was late in the afternoon and he was too far away from the start. But still he decided that little more would be no harm. The factor that was pushing

him on was his dream of a luxurious life ahead. Finally he was too far away to return to the start. He ran back at full speed. He managed to reach the starting point, but finally collapsed at the starting point. He was now the owner of the entire land but was no more alive.

So we have to learn from this incident that one must be satisfied with whatever one needs and not accumulate more than necessary or else that leads to suffering and in the bargain he may not be able to enjoy the very thing for which he struggled so hard.

STORY 1

day. He started running at

to cover a large amount

spend half the day running one side so So we have to learn from this incident


111

STORY 2 - A BAG OF GRAINS

According to nature’s arrangement, living entities lower on the evolutionary scale do not eat or collect more than necessary. Consequently in the animal kingdom there is generally no economic

problem or scarcity of necessities. If a bag of rice is placed in a public

place, birds will come to eat a few grains and go away. A human being, however, will take away the whole bag. He will eat all his stomach can hold and then try to keep the rest in storage. According

to scriptures, this collecting of more than necessary (atyähära) is prohibited. Now the entire world is suffering because of it.

Collecting and eating more than necessary also causes prayäsa, or unnecessary endeavor. By God’s arrangement, anyone in any part of the world can live very peacefully if he has some land and a milk cow. There is no need for man to move from one place to another to earn a livelihood, for one can produce food grains locally and get milk from cows. That can solve all economic problems. Fortunately, man has been given higher intelligence for the cultivation of Kåñëa consciousness, or the understanding of God, one’s relationship with Him,

and the ultimate goal of life, love of God. Unfortunately, so-called civilized man, not caring for God realization, utilizes his intelligence to get more than necessary and simply eat to satisfy the tongue. By God’s arrangement there is sufficient scope for the production of milk and grains for human beings all over the world, but instead of using his higher intelligence to cultivate God consciousness, so-called intelligent men misuse their intelligence to produce many unnecessary and unwanted

things. Thus factories, slaughterhouses, brothels and liquor shops are

opened. If people are advised not to collect too many goods, eat too much or work unnecessarily to possess artificial amenities, they think they are being advised to return to a primitive way of life. Generally people do not like to accept plain living and high thinking. That is their unfortunate position.

Human life is meant for God realization, and the human being is given higher

intelligence for this purpose. Those who believe that this higher intelligence is meant to attain a higher state should follow the instructions of the Vedic literatures. By taking such instructions from higher authorities, one can actually become situated in perfect knowledge and give real meaning to life.

place, birds will come to eat place, birds will come to eat

is no need for man to move from one place to another to earn a livelihood, for one can produce food

get milk from cows.


112


The wife of the headman of a village died soon after giving birth to a baby boy. The headman was inconsolable but was persuaded by his family and friends to marry again so that the child would have someone to look after him.

Fortunately, his second wife turned out to be a large-hearted and

sensible woman who gave the child all the love and care he would have received from his own mother. In the course of the years she presented the headman with two more sons, but her affection for the oldest never diminished. She treated all three boys alike and the two younger ones never realized they had a stepbrother. When the headman passed away, the widow entrusted the responsibilities of the household and the fields to the eldest son and he managed them so well that the family prospered. This made the neighbours envious.

One day, one of them told the widow’s sons the truth about their eldest brother and advised

them to drive him away from the house lest he should deprive them of their share of their father’s property. The boys were shocked at the revelation, and, frightened by the prospect of losing their share of the property, decided to murder him. When they told their mother about what they planned to do, she said to them,

“Don’t bloody your hands, I will get rid of him for you.” That night when everybody was asleep, she suddenly jumped out of bed and started shouting: “Snake! Snake!” “Where? Where did you see it, mother?” asked the eldest son, getting up from his mat.

“Alas!” said the widow. “I saw it disappearing into your stomach.”

The young man turned pale. From that day on, he lost all appetite for food and would lie on his mat the whole day long. Soon he became so weak that he could not even sit up on his mat. The neighbours rejoiced and took advantage of the situation. They built a wall across the widow’s courtyard and claimed a part of the house as their own. In the fields they shifted their boundaries to enclose large portions of the widow’s lands.

The younger sons could not deal with the situation and one day they said to their

mother: “If our elder brother was not bed-ridden, such terrible things would not have happened to us.” The widow kept quiet, but in the dead of the night she again started shouting: “Snake! Snake!”Everyone woke up.

This made the neighbours envious. One day, one of them told the widow’s sons the truth about their eldest brother and advised

STORY 1 - THE THREE BROTHERS (GREED AND UNITY)

“Don’t bloody your hands, I will get rid of him for you.”

up from his mat.

mother: “If our elder brother was not

3. Sharing is the love that you show to people - Sharing responsibilities at home, school


113

STORY 1 - THE UNLUCKY WEAVER

Somilaka was a weaver living on the edge of the city.

He was an expert at making fine garments

worthy of kings and princes. He enjoyed the patronage of the nobility. Despite all this, he was poorer than those weavers who were making coarse cloth for the common people. Worried at his condition, he told his wife, “Look dear, how rich these weavers of coarse cloth have become. There is something wrong with this place. I am not a success here. I will go elsewhere.” “No dear. It is not true that you can be successful elsewhere. Our luck is linked to what we have done in a previous birth. If you have done a good deed in your previous birth, you will reap the harvest in this birth without your effort. If you don’t have it in your destiny, you will not get it even with effort. Just as sun and shade are inseparable, cause and effect are also linked to each other.” Somilaka did not agree with her.

He said, “Without effort, you can achieve nothing. Without cause there is no effect. Even if you get a good meal as a result of a good deed in the past, you have to use your hand to eat it. Wealth comes to a person who toils. There is no point in chanting the name of God. You must do your bit first. If you are not successful despite your effort, you are not to blame. Therefore, I have decided to go abroad.” Ignoring his wife’s pleas, Somilaka left his place and reached Vardhamanapuram. Working day and night, he earned three hundred gold sovereigns within three years. He thought he should go home now and started the homeward trek. At dusk he found himself in the middle of a forest. Wild animals began their hunt for prey. The weaver climbed a tall tree and went to sleep on a big branch. He saw a dream: The God of Action and the God of Destiny were talking to each other. Destiny asked Action, “The weaver is not

Somilaka was a weaver living on the edge of the city.

Action, “The weaver is not

“Where...where did you see it mother?” asked the eldest son, weakly.“Son, I saw it coming out of your stomach,” replied the woman. “It disappeared into the darkness.” From that day on the condition of the eldest son started improving. Soon he was able to walk into the courtyard where he saw the new wall. “Who has built this!” he thundered.

The neighbours came running and meekly pulled down the wall. The following week he went to the family fields and seeing the new boundaries shouted, “Who has done this!” The neighbours trembled in fear and quickly vacated the land they had

grabbed.The widow and her three sons lived in peace and harmony ever after.

mother?” asked the eldest son, weakly.“Son, I saw it coming out of

4. Sharing is the quality of the divine


114

GURU 10 - Honeybee & Honey Thiefdestined to live in luxury. Why did you give him three hundred sovereigns?”

Action replied, “I have to give to those who try and toil. Whether the weaver can keep it or not is in your hands.”

The dream jolted the weaver. He looked into his bag and found the sovereigns missing. Heart-broken, Somilaka began crying, “Oh I have lost what I have earned in three years with great effort. I have become a poor man again. I cannot go home in this condition and show my face to my wife.” He saw no point in brooding over what has happened and decided to go to Vardhamanapuram and try again. This time, he could collect five hundred sovereigns in one year. He stored all this money in a small bag and began his homeward journey. When it was sundown, he had already entered a forest. This time, he did not sleep, afraid that he would lose his money. He continued to walk through the forest. This time also he saw those two persons he saw earlier in his dream coming in his direction. They repeated the same conversation about God rewarding a hardworking person and destiny

denying it. He immediately looked into his bag and found there was no gold in it. This time Somilaka lost his courage and thought he should

commit suicide. He made a strong rope with the fibres he found in the forest. He tied one end of the rope to a high branch of the tree and made a noose of

the other end. Everything was ready for his suicide when he heard a voice in the skies: “O Somilaka, don’t be rash. I am destiny who took away your wealth. I cannot give you more than what is necessary for your bare needs. Not a single cent more. But I am pleased with your adventurous spirit. Ask for a boon.

I shall give it.” “Please give me lots of wealth,” said the weaver. “What do you do with so

much money?” asked the voice. The weaver replied, “People serve him who is rich even if he is a miser.” “In that case, go back to Vardhamanapuram where two wealthy merchants, Guptadhana and Upabhuktadhana are doing business. After studying them well, decide who you want to become, Guptadhana, the man who earns a lot of money but does not spend a cent of it or Upabhuktadhana, the man who earns but also enjoys the wealth he has amassed.”

Somilaka followed their advice and went back to Vardhamanapuram reaching the place in the evening after a tiring journey. With great difficulty he traced Guptadhana’s house and entered it despite resistance from the merchant’s family. When the time for dinner came, the merchant grudgingly gave food to Somilaka, suggesting that

The dream jolted the weaver.

lost what I have earned in three years

away your wealth. I cannot give you more than what

food to Somilaka, suggesting that


115

he was an unwanted guest. The weaver found a corner in the house where he could sleep. Somilaka again had the same dream in which Action and Destiny were debating Guptadhana giving food to him. Destiny told Action, “You have made Guptadhana give food to Somilaka.” Action said, “You cannot blame me. I had to ensure that Somalika was fed. It is for you to decide who deserved what.” Next day, Destiny saw to it that Guptadhana had an attack of cholera and had to miss his meal. In this manner what was given away was saved. Later, Somilaka visited Upabhuktadhana’s house where the host welcomed him with great love and respect. The weaver had a good meal and slept. He had a dream as usual, the same two figures appearing in the dream. Destiny told Action, “O Action,

the host has spent a lot of money to entertain Somilaka. He even borrowed to make

the guest happy. It is not in his destiny to have surplus. How will he repay what he has borrowed?” Action replied, “My job is to see Somilaka got what he deserved. If Upabhuktadhana crossed the limits in entertaining his guest, that is not my fault. It is for you to decide what should be done.” Next day, a messenger from the royal household came to Upabhuktadhana and gave him a big sum of money on behalf of the king. Somilaka thought, “It is better to be like Upabhuktadhana. He enjoys life with whatever he has. What’s the use of being rich but miserly? I will better be Upabhuktadhana.” Pleased, the Gods showered on him the wealth that he needed to enjoy life.

Somilaka again had the same

great love and respect. The weaver had a

Somilaka thought, “It is better to

the use of being rich but

STORY 2 - JAYANANDA PRABHU

Jayananda prabhu used to give his entire salary to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada printed his books

and also used the money to propagate the Krishna Consciousness movement.

STORY 3 - A BUSINESSMAN DISCIPLE OF BHAKTI SIDDHANTA SARASWATI (SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF LORD KRISHNA)

One disciple of Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur would earn money by doing his business. Then at the end of the month, whatever money

he would earn, he would come and keep

it at the lotus feet of his guru maharaj. Then Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati would give him back whatever he requires to run his family and the rest of the money he would utilise in preaching.


GURU 10 - Honeybee & Honey ThiefSTORY 4

Pilai Pillai Alvan, a disciple of Kuresh had aggressive nature as a result he would criticize devotees. It was his

habit to criticize at least one devotee every day. He was very much depressed by that. The news reached Kuresh. Kuresh asked for charity to him; he said, “I want your body, words and mind in charity”. So he gave. From that time onwards as soon as he would see a devotee. He

wanted to criticize him but he would somehow stop himself. One day he saw a devotee who was limping while walking. He

couldn’t control himself and committed offence in mind.

After that he felt very bad that he gave his mind to His Spiritual Master but he is committing vaishvnava aparadha with that property of the Spiritual Master. So he decided to fast till death. When Kuresh heard he said, “Why are you fasting till death? You have controlled committing Vaishnav aparadha with your body and word, mind is far greater. Don’t fast. Go to Ramanuja and pay him one obeisance. That will relieve you from this propensity.” He went to Ramanuja and paid one obeisance and that destroyed his entire propensity to commit Vaishnava aparadha.

habit to criticize at least one devotee every

wanted to criticize him but he would somehow stop himself. One day he saw a devotee who was limping while walking. He

Don’t fast. Go to Ramanuja and pay him

116

5. Sharing is not about sharing answers in exams, gossip about someone else

A businessman once came to see Srila Prabhupada and Prabhupada asked him what does he do. He said that he deals and manufactures glass. Srila Prabhupada asked him where does glass come from. He replied that glass comes from silica, so where does silica come from; He replied that silica comes from sand. Prabhupada asked where does sand come from, the reply came as beach. Now Prabhupada asked who made the beach. He finally answered that God made the beach. Srila Prabhupada said that he was a big thief. He got bewildered, Srila Prabhupada explained that if you take something from someone and you don’t repay then you are termed as a thief. The man said

that he gives donations, so Prabhupada said he is a small thief. The lesson we have to learn is that one should not accumulate and another thing is that one should not hold back and give back whatever he has received to the person responsible for providing him everything. So Prabhupada whenever he was offered any money or charity he would not think twice to accept it as he always used it in Krishna’s service thereby purifying the money and also giving the person some sukrti. So Sadhu can enjoy hard earned money of others if he is utilizing it for the Lord.

STORY 1 - STORY OF GLASSMAKER AND PRABHUPADA (RECIPROCATE BACK FOR LORD’S LOVE & CARE)

that he gives donations, so Prabhupada said he is a small thief. The lesson we have to learn is that one should not accumulate and


117

ConclusionHOW IS IT RELEVANT IN MY LIFE?

What is our reaction when we are passing a mall where there is a section of stationary? You see some very good pens. What is the first thing that goes on in your mind? Do you first think about all the pens that you already have at home? Do you think about another friend of yours who has only one pen, because his father cannot afford another one? Will you still go for the nice looking pen? Or will you instead stop yourself by reminding yourself that you are wasting money?

Also a quick recap of the guru and his teachings.

Video of nutty fox.

Video of Third part of “Ganges” – men stealing honey.


guru10 13 15

Education